Name, not content, target of request
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 12:42 p.m., October 25, 2007
Updated 12:42 p.m., October 25, 2007
Reader poll
Do you think the Emporia school board should change the name of the Seasonal Celebration back to the Christmas Program?
- Yes
- No
- Undecided
984 total votes.
The Seasonal Celebration would remain the same; only the name would be changed to the “Christmas Program” if a group of Emporians can convince the board of education to approve a proposal made Wednesday evening during a board meeting at Mary Herbert Learning Center.
The Rev. Chester Morris earlier in the year had appeared before the board during a public comment segment of the agenda, to ask that the Christmas program be restored to its former format. From about 1935 to 1992 , the annual program had presented the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. In 1992, an Emporian complained to the American Civil Liberties Union about the religious content of the publicly funded program.
The school board in 1993 approved changing the content of the program and a threatened lawsuit did not materialize.
“We’re not sure exactly how that happened, but it did,” Superintendent John Heim told the board and its audience prior to Morris’s statement.
Heim said that no documentation of discussion could be found in minutes of open board meetings, but former board members were able to provide some background for the action.
“The name was actually changed from the Christmas Program to signify that the content was different,” Heim said.
The board had voted to change the name to “Winter Festival.” However, all available documents referred to the program after 1992 as the “Seasonal Celebration.”
The content of the program now includes a variety of music, including traditional Christmas numbers and songs representing other cultures.
The district already has consulted attorneys about whether the content could revert to its original format.
“What we found was that it’s the opinion of the legal experts, I think on both sides of the issue, that ... the content of that program doesn’t pass Constitutional muster,” Heim said.
Morris prefaced his statement with background information about his communications with an attorney for the American Alliance Defense Fund. His findings were similar to those of the district.
“(The attorney) stated that the 1992 format was very wonderful and very beautiful, but it was just like a church service,” Morris said. “Our request tonight is not to change the content of the program but to change the name of it.”
Morris said that legal opinion that would allow the action was predicated on Congressional approval of Christmas as a holiday “with religious significance.”
Additionally, he said, a Supreme Court ruling also acknowledged certain rights of students.
“The students do not shed their Constitutional right to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” Morris said.
The board will study the matter for discussion at a later meeting.
A revision was made to the master contract for certified staff members, after a recommendation from a tax-law firm consulted by the Bank of Kansas City. The bank is being considered to administer the educators’ 403(b) retirement plan.
According to Susan Hernandez, associate superintendent for finance, the law firm discovered a problem with the language of the agreement, after the Internal Revenue Service released information in August about the final 403(b) regulations.
“As he was reviewing our document, he did find some areas for concern,” Hernandez said.
She contacted Emporia National Education Association leaders, who also reviewed the agreement with legal counsel and agreed that the amendment needed to be made.
Nancy Gilpin, representing the ENEA, said that teachers already have voted and have ratified the change.
The board received copies of the Kansas Association of School Boards’ “Legislative Committee Report to the 2007 Delegate Assembly” that will be presented during the convention in Overland Park in December. The document represents items the KASB plans to promote during the upcoming legislative session.
Heim pointed out a section of the report that he believed could be detrimental to education. The plan would give individual school districts authority to license their own teachers, based on district criteria.
“Right now, that authority lies with the state,” Heim said. “It concerns me that (the KASB) is trying to take that away. There’s just so many differences in districts, to have 304 different licensing districts is a bad policy, and I don’t think we should support that.”
Heim also was concerned that such non-uniform licensing could result in not meeting one of the criteria of the No Child Left Behind Act.
“One of the mandates is that every child shall have a highly qualified teacher,” he said. “Highly qualified and certified are not the same.”
Board member Mike Helbert said he was concerned about another section in the plan, which calls for a state-wide property tax to help fully finance education.
“I’m certainly in favor of the part that talks about fully funding ... but I don’t think this board ought to go on record as supporting a property tax increase, or a statewide property tax increase.”
Helbert said he would favor income tax over property tax.
Heim said that he believed the KASB wanted the state to assume full responsibility, instead of using the Local Option Budget facet of funding afforded to individual school districts.
“It becomes more equalized when that happens,” Heim said.
The KASB document stated “including a statewide mill levy,” Helbert said. “I’m personally convinced that property tax is not the best way to fund public education. I’m not sure I want to put my name on that.”
Mary Helmer, who was elected as the board’s delegate to the convention, said she would like board members to study the report thoroughly and decide what issues would be supported before the convention. The report was tabled and will be discussed at a later meeting.
The board heard a curriculum report about the relationships of coaches, strategists, principals and students from Ben Coltrane and Kim Kirk, principals, and Tammy Torrens and Joy Frevert, coaches.
rami (anonymous) says...
All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS! I was afraid that someone had once again complained about the content of the program. I will enjoy the program no matter what the name.
October 25, 2007 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hjcary (anonymous) says...
I would not want the name changed. Someone new to Emporia and not knowing the history might attend thinking they are attending a Christmas program and then leave empty realizing there was no reference to Christ in the CHRISTmas program. It would be deceptive to rename it a CHRISTmas program in my opinion.
October 25, 2007 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proverbs18_21 (anonymous) says...
hjcary,
I have to wonder if you have ever been to the program before. There most certainly is reference to Christ in it - it's just that He is now not the ONLY focus of the celebration. The name change certainly would not be deceptive.
October 25, 2007 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I haven't been to the program in some years, I was wondering the same thing. What reference to Christ is there? Is it just in traditional Christmas songs? Are some of the "traditional" songs religious, such as "Silent Night", or are they all just "Christmasy", something like "Jingle Bells"? Thanks ahead of time for the info.
October 25, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proverbs18_21 (anonymous) says...
open_eyes:
Though certainly not as many as there used to be, there are still some traditional Christmas songs. "Away In A Manger" comes to mind, as well as my favorite "Handel's Messiah".
October 25, 2007 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brooke (anonymous) says...
It only took one complaint to cause the school board to fold. Now it is time for them to listen to the majority.
October 25, 2007 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
They changed last time because they were threatened with a lawsuit. How long will it last this time before threatened with a lawsuit? Also, will the majority pay to help fight or the settlement when a lawsuit is brought? With the increasing muslim population in Emporia I just dont see this as a good idea.
October 25, 2007 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proverbs18_21 (anonymous) says...
emporian: following your line of thinking, one should never stand up for what one believes to be right if there is the slightest chance a person may sue? In this sue-happy with or without cause world, one would stand for nothing. This is America, and Christmas is and has been a long-celebrated tradition here. As Brooke said, it took only "one" complaint and the board cow-towed in fear to the ACLU. It's time for the majority not to be so silent.
October 25, 2007 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
Seperation of church and state is pretty clear and unconstitutional. You cant force your religion on people just cause you are the majority. This country was founded because people sought to escape religious prosecution and now you religious nutjobs are doing the exact same thing ramming it down people's throats.
I hope you all have lots of money cause the ACLU will sue when they find out about it. I gaurantee (sp) it. Jehovah's Witnesses or someone else will tip them off. Then they will have to change it back again or you folks like yourselves are gonna have to cough up BIG (100s of thousands of dollars to fight it).
Save yourself the trouble.
October 25, 2007 at 8:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proverbs18_21 (anonymous) says...
I will repeat my original point...Christmas IS a FEDERALLY-acknowledged holiday. December 25th is not called a seasonal day, it is called "Christmas". Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume the program celebrating CHRISTMAS should also be referred to as the "CHRISTMAS" Program" - just as it was for many many years, until one individual suddenly decided to find it offensive.
October 25, 2007 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporiahelper (anonymous) says...
I agree with proverbs18_21 because it is a national holiday. Its not forcing this holiday on anyone, it is a choise to go or not to go. The only reason someone would complain is not religion, its the money. Everyone in the world today wants more money. They look for everything to complain or sue about. I like the tradional old Christian Program. It did not hurt anyone to hear the name Christmas " its on the calender " this program has been around for 70 + years i think and its one of the longest still running. People stop complaing and change it back. Some of the song choices arent that great either. What happened to the little boy waking up to the presents on stage? The last Christmas tree. One more thing I see wrong with the program is that there should be a rule about kids that come in. They think its funny to cough and flash cell phones and stupid things they think is funny. Well its not and they should only allow people in 18 years and older and any younger with an adult.
October 25, 2007 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
You know... the people who are so against the "Christmas Program" always had the freedom of choice.. they had the choice to attend or to not attend. If they found it so disturbing in the first place, why in the world did they go? Sounds like a lot of troublemakers to me.
October 25, 2007 at 9:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
I agree with proverbs18_21 and emporiahelper. Christmas is a federally acknowledged holiday. It should be allowed, whether publicly or privately funded. And if someone has an issue with it's content, perhaps they should ask to have their own festival started as well. I personally have no issues with other holidays being acknowledged, even in a public setting such as the Auditorium. Let them sing and celebrate in their own way. And let the CHRISTMAS Program continue on the way it always has been.
I remember participating in the CHRISTMAS Program for years. I went as a small child with my Grandmother. It is the one thing I fondly remember. I remember watching the dancers go up the walkway with their beautiful lights, doing their performance to Canon in D. I also remember years later, as a sixth grader on up, performing those wonderful songs. We were never forced to participate in the program. If we did not celebrate Christmas, or have the same beliefs in Jesus Christ, we were allowed to opt out, without so much as a sniffle from the choir teacher or school board.
50 years went by without so much as a yelp about how religious the original program was. It just goes to show you how our world around us has become. It brings me to tears to know that I cannot share the beauty of the original program with my daughter. All because of one particular individual.
October 25, 2007 at 9:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporiahelper (anonymous) says...
Thank you hogan77. I guess there are some reasonable ?sp? in this world and proverbs to.
October 25, 2007 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ronniejeannie (anonymous) says...
As an American who is suppose to have the Freedom of speech, I say to you all. How many of you take part in our Nationally recognized holiday called Christmas? Most with it being a paid Holiday, So let me ask you this...If you don't want to recognize the program as a Christmas program, then why celebrate Christmas at all? I don't appreciate the name of the program being referred to as ''Seasonal Celebration'' to please a few. The program is just more Multi-cultural now, so it can be appreciated by all of our community members, that doesn't mean that we need to forget the real meaning of the program. It was originally celebrated to recognize the birth of Christ, no matter how many cultures there are in our communities now it represents the same meaning to us all, so why not call it what it really is....''A Christmas Celebration'' and be Thankful that we can all come together for this program and the majority of the community looks forward to each and every year.
October 25, 2007 at 10:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hartford (anonymous) says...
just a thought I'm throwing out here and many will tell me the exact answer i am sure, i am a little tired so maybe it's just lack of sleep talking here but if Christmas is a federal holiday, and Jehova Witnesses do not even pledge their allegiance to the flag or even stand for that matter, do companies have to pay them holiday pay? I wouldn't!!!! I would make them work that day and every other holiday they don't believe in!
just a thought and it's my opinion only, no hate mail please!! LOL!
October 25, 2007 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hartford (anonymous) says...
yeah yeah, i know this article isn't about Jehova's, just a random thought that came to mind
October 25, 2007 at 11:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Well we as Christians should have a CHRISTMAS program. Why do we have to change our values just make a few happy. We have to respect all the other holidays that dont pertain to us, and this is our holiday so respect it and the CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.
And it is sad that we cant include Christ in the program. If it were any other religion, their god would be in it.
America the free has become, Americas the run over and run out.
October 25, 2007 at 11:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Now, this is interesting. A Federal judge in Wisconsin in 2005 ruled that atheism IS a religion, and the Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. So, why is it that atheism seems to be crammed down everyone's throat by the courts?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/art...
October 26, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )